Machine for extracting gold.



No. 663,375. Patented nec. 4, |900.

a.wessTEn.

MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING GOLD.

(Application mea mar. a, -1900.)

(No Model.:

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SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,375, dated December` 4, 1900.

' Application tied March 8,1900. semi No. 7,922. (nom-tf1.:

To 1J/Z Yw/mm it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE WEBSTER, en-

-in Machines forEXtracting Gold from Finely- Divided Metalliferous Materials, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for extracting gold from finely-divided metalliferous material-such as battery crushings or tailings, d redgings, or other material containing gold or silver, or both-and the classes of sur-.h machine to which i-t particularly refers are those in which the crushings, tailings', dredgings, or the like are passed with a supcrabundanee of water over or in con tact with textile fabric or matting on which the heavier particles are retained.

A machine for extracting gold from finelydivided metalliferous material constructed according to this present invention has a hopper or receiver just above a catching-receptacle with or without riffles, from the upper part of which leads a comparatively long narrow chamber or passage having a fabrielined bottom and a top or cover closely above said fabric-lined bottom, the whole from the mou th of the hopper to thefabric-lined chamber or passage being water-tight. In the fabric-lined chamber or passage and just at the surface ofthe fabric are devices by means of which jets of water may be directed ad,- versely to the movement of the material under treatment. Further, the under surface of the cover or top of this fabric-lined chamber or passage may be an amalgamated surface in order to catch, if there be any, oat-gold.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood, reference will now be made to the drawings herewith, in which- Figure l is a central sectional elevation of a machine such as constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the cover of the passage being removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sections on the lines 3 3 and at 4:, respectively, of Fig. 2.

The comparatively long narrow chamber or passage A rests upon horses or legs a and has at its feed end a hopper B and at its discharge end a receiving-launder or chute c,

leading to waste or otherwise. At the lowermost end of hopper B is opening or orifice B', just a little behind the depression or basin or catching-receptacle C, in which are rifties or catch-plates C and C2 and in the bottom of which is voutlet C3, on which is cock C4. The passage or chamber A is characterized by the fact of its having a top surface A2, as well as a bottom one A', covered by matting A3 or other fabric or similar catchy lining of textile or metallic or other material, and also by the fact that the depth of such chamber or passage is such that no excess volume of water-borne material rcan pass through it without all particles of any Weight being forced onto the matting A3 (where they will be retained) and without all the lighter particles being brought into contact with the surface A2, which may be an amalgamated surface, if desired, for the purpose of catching and holding float-gold, if any be present. As an additional precaution, though not an essential to the success of this in vention, water-pipes D and D2 are conveyed along the bottom A in grooves D3, made therein for such purpose. When water is supplied to these pipes D and D2, jets of water are emitted therefrom in a direction (shown by lines d in Fig. 2) adverse to the progress of the material and water through the passage or chamber A. The valves or plugs D5 and D6 regulate the. supply of water, and consequently the force of the jets d.

In operation the crushings, dredgings, tailings, dtc., are fed in any desired or approved manner to hopper B, to which a regulated superabundance of Water is also supplied. The material and waterpassingthrough opening B' pass into receptacle C, wherein the heavier particles sink to the bottom, while the remainder endeavors to escape to the passage or chamber A over the rifiies C and C2, these catching and retarding the passing away of heavier particles which may have had momentum imparted to them. In the case of tailings being treated this receptacle O is found to catch a comparatively considerable quantity of the mercury wasted in such tailings. The receptacle C is emptied when desired by means of plug or cock C4. The material and water which pass the ritfles C and C2 then flow over the matting A3, Whereon YOO any heavier portions are caught, and finally the remainder discharges into launder c and flows to Waste. The 'jets d are employed to cause eddies and generally to retardthe advance of any heavier particles in the passage or chamber A, and so insure that they will settle on the matting A3. When the under surface A2 is silvered or amalgamated, any float-gold in the material passing along chamber or passage A is caught and retained and may be cleaned o as may be desired or neces sary by withdrawing the cover A4 from under A the bolts A5.

The most serviceable dimensions of the various parts of a machine for extracting gold from finely-divided metalliferous materials depend particularly upon the class of material to be treated and the quantity and force of wat-er available for same. The main considv eration is that the passage or chamber A shall be of comparatively small depth, only suflciently deep, in fact, to allow of a flow of the material and water when the bottom A is set approximately level. The best Working of this machine is obtained When the feed into hopper B is regular and the operator keenly watches his results. By rough trials he can easily ascertain the quantity of feed, both of material and Water, the incline, if any, of the bottom A', and the force and quantity of the jets d to retain in use. These rough trials do not entail any more trouble upon a skilled and capable operator than is required in most machines for similar' purposes.

I-Iaving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim isl. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a comparatively long, shalthe combination of a comparatively long shallow and closely-covered-in passage or cham ber, the bottom of which islined with a matting and the top thereof amalgamated, a hopper arranged at one end thereof, and a conical catch-receptacle or basin arranged at the discharge end of said hopper and having riftles arranged one in advance of the other, toward the delivering end of said passage or chamber, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine of the character described the combination of a comparatively long, shallow covered-in passage or chamber having a lining on its bottom, a hopper at one end thereof, a conical catch-receptacle or basin arranged at the discharge end of said hopper and having riitles arranged one in advance of the other, toward the delivery end of said passage or chamber, and a series of water-pipes arranged to discharge jets of water, oppositely to the flow otl material through said passage or chamber, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

FRED WALSH, PERGY NEWELL. 

